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VW's Skoda posts 12% profit rise in H1 as electric sales grow

VW's Skoda posts 12% profit rise in H1 as electric sales grow

Time of India4 days ago
Skoda Auto
, a
Volkswagen
unit, increased the share of
electric vehicles
in its sales mix in the first half of the year and posted a nearly 12 per cent rise in
operating profit
to 1.3 billion euros ($1.52 billion), it said on Monday.
The Czech carmaker's revenue for the first six months rose nearly 12 per cent year on year to 15.1 billion euros.
Deliveries were up 14 per cent to 509,400 vehicles in the period. Around 23 per cent of those deliveries were either fully electric or plug-in hybrid models, up from 9.4 per cent in the first half of last year, the company said.
Chief Executive Klaus Zellmer said customers had placed more than 120,000 orders for Skoda's all-electric Enyaq and Elroq models by the end of June, highlighting progress in its electrification strategy.
European automakers have booked multi-billion-euro losses and issued profit warnings as they struggle to handle competition from China, U.S. import tariffs, and EU regulations aimed at speeding up the EV transition.
"Sales relative to the overall market performance, we are doing good," Zellmer told journalists in a video conference.
While overall car sales have fallen in Europe this year, sales of electric vehicles - a priority segment for companies like Skoda Auto - have been rising.
Zellmer said the company sees big potential with the new Epiq, an electric SUV priced at 25,000 euros that will target entry-level consumers. It plans to launch the Epiq in the first half of 2026.
"We put a lot of hope or I would even say ... expectation on that car," he said. "Our current rate of electrified drive train sales ... has to go up."
In the European market, Skoda delivered 409,100 vehicles to customers, an increase of nearly 11 per cent that outperformed the overall market and was underpinned by the sales of 72,000 electric vehicles and 21,400 plug-in hybrids, the company said.
Skoda also achieved
record results in India
where it delivered 33,000 vehicles, representing year-on-year growth of 108 per cent, the company said.
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Do you have a better deal? 7 times India defended its oil imports from Russia
Do you have a better deal? 7 times India defended its oil imports from Russia

First Post

time26 minutes ago

  • First Post

Do you have a better deal? 7 times India defended its oil imports from Russia

India has firmly asserted that its energy security, economic resilience and strategic autonomy cannot be compromised in response to escalating Western pressure read more In a sweeping escalation of trade tensions, US President Donald Trump on July 30 announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, effective August 1, explicitly citing India's 'continued energy and defence ties with Russia' as part of the rationale. Alongside the tariff, Trump threatened an unspecified additional penalty linked to New Delhi's persistent purchases of Russian oil and military equipment. AI generated picture of an angry US President Donald Trump with India for buying Russian crude oil Complementing this, US Senator Lindsey Graham is championing the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 (S.1241). If passed, it would allow the US to impose 500 per cent secondary tariffs on countries—including India—that buy Russian energy exports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, as global pressure mounts on India over its continued oil trade with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, New Delhi has consistently and firmly defended its decisions. At various levels and platforms, the government has made it clear that the country's energy security, economic resilience and strategic autonomy cannot be compromised in favour of selective Western outrage. From the corridors of Vienna to press briefings in Washington and panels in Doha, here are seven moments when India stood its ground: 1. 'Switch off our economy?' In response to criticism from a British journalist, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami projected New Delhi's frustration: 'What would you want us to do? Switch off our economy?' He reminded that India is the third-largest energy consumer and imports over 80 per cent of its energy. Doraiswami called out Western hypocrisy, noting that European countries continued to source energy‑related materials from Russia even as they chastised India. On July 28, while speaking to Times Radio, the Indian High Commissioner highlighted the irony in the fact that several European countries continued purchasing rare earth and other energy products—not necessarily oil—from the same countries they were urging India to avoid. When questioned about India's close ties with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, he explained that the relationship was built on several factors, including a longstanding security partnership that originated during a time when Western nations refused to sell weapons to India but supplied them to neighbouring countries hostile to it. He also pointed out that India's current energy relationship with Russia emerged because traditional energy sources had become inaccessible due to others purchasing them. Furthermore, he remarked on the selective nature of international relationships, noting that many countries maintained ties with nations problematic for India, yet no one asked them to prove their loyalty through such choices. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India is the fourth-largest energy refiner globally and many European nations still purchased refined oil from it. 2. 'We'll cross that bridge…' Addressing the US proposal for punitive tariffs—including the looming 500 per cent secondary penalties—External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India's energy and security concerns had been made conversant to US lawmakers. 'We will then have to cross that bridge when we come to it, if we come to it,' he cautioned. The external affairs minister said that the Indian embassy and ambassador have been in touch with US Senator Graham regarding the bill on Russia and India will have to cross that bridge if it comes to it. While addressing a press conference on July 4, 2028, Jaishankar stated that India's concerns and interests on energy, security have been made conversant to Graham. Graham is proposing a carveout for his Russian sanctions bill to exclude nations that help Ukraine's defence, protecting them from a 500 per cent tariff for trading with Russia. 3. 'Do you have a better deal?' At the Doha Forum December 8, 2024, Jaishankar addressed critics dismissing India's imports of Russian oil as opportunism: 'I get oil, yes. It is not necessarily cheap. Do you have a better deal?' He insisted India's purchases were guided by pragmatism, not opportunism. Simultaneously, he detailed India's diplomatic engagement with both Russian and Ukrainian leadership, advocating peace through dialogue, not force. Jaishankar said that the focus appeared to be shifting more towards the realities of negotiation rather than the continuation of the war. Efforts were being made by engaging with both President Putin in Moscow and President Zelenskyy in Kyiv, as well as through meetings in other locations, to identify potential common ground that could be developed when the time was right. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was clarified that these efforts did not amount to a formal peace plan or mediation, but rather involved multiple, transparent conversations with both parties each being informed about what would be conveyed to the other. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had previously defended India's decision to purchase Russian oil during a period when many countries were avoiding it. He argued that India had actually helped stabilise global oil prices, which might have otherwise surged to $200 per barrel. 4. 'Why didn't Europe cut off energy on February 25?' In an interview with Austria's ORF on January 3, 2023, Jaishankar challenged Europe's moral position. With a per capita income of €60,000, Europe could comfortably wean off Russian energy, while India—with per capita income of $2,000—could not afford high-priced oil. He questioned why Europe, if acting on principle, didn't sever Russian energy ties on February 25, 2022 when the Russian attacks on Ukraine began. Jaishankar also said that Europe's actions were affecting global oil markets by shifting into West Asia, diverting production and consequently driving up prices. Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he reaffirmed India's stance, stating that the country supported peace and had consistently advocated for a return to dialogue and diplomacy, emphasising that conflicts could not be resolved through violence. 5. 'India did the world a favour' In December 2024, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri also explained India's decision to buy Russian oil at a time when the major countries were boycotting it. 'India did the entire world a favour by buying Russian oil because if we had not done so, the global oil prices would have skyrocketed to $200/barrel. Russian oil was never under any sanctions and there was only a price cap, which Indian entities also followed,' he had said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Puri argued that India's continued purchase of Russian oil played a key role in preventing global oil prices from soaring to $200 per barrel. He asserted that India adhered to the Western-imposed price cap of $60 per barrel, thereby not violating any sanctions. According to him, India's approach contributed to stabilising global energy markets. He also drew a comparison between India's oil imports and the EU's gas consumption, remarking that European nations often purchased more in a single afternoon than India did over an entire quarter. Puri warned that avoiding Russian oil would put significant pressure on global supply, potentially driving prices up to $130–$140 per barrel. He maintained that India's diversified sourcing strategy had helped maintain market resilience and stability. While they remain fixated on India's oil purchases from Russia, what many around the world don't seem to realise is that the global oil prices would have hit the roof if India had not bought oil from Russia. Leaves one with a feeling that they are not able to wrap their heads… — Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) November 8, 2024 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 6. 'We'll buy oil from wherever we have to' While commenting on President Trump's secondary sanctions threat against India, Puri said that India diversified its sources of buying oil and is not facing pressure over Trump's new threat. The remarks from Puri came when Firstpost's Managing Editor, Palki Sharma, asked him about Trump's secondary sanctions threat and the kind of impact it can have on the Indian oil industry. 'We'll buy oil from wherever we have to,' Puri asserted while discussing India's approach to sourcing energy, emphasising that the Prime Minister's top priority was the Indian consumer. He highlighted India's growing role in the global energy scenario, noting that 16 per cednt of international energy market growth in the past decade had come from India, and the International Energy Agency projected that India would account for 25 per cent of global energy growth over the next two decades. Puri pointed out to Russia's contribution of 10 per cent to daily global oil consumption and warned that excluding it from the market would have severe consequences, such as energy shortages and rising prices. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 7. 'We look at what is available in the market…' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that India determines its oil purchases based on market availability and global conditions, aiming to meet the country's energy needs effectively. 'You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation,' Jaiswal said during a press briefing on August 1. On July 17, responding to US tariffs threat and criticisms about India's Russian oil imports, the MEA spokesperson said that India's energy strategy prioritises securing domestic needs and draws from a diversified supply base now covering around 40 countries, up from 27. He dismissed the threat of secondary sanctions and strongly cautioned against what he described as 'double standards' in international expectations. This came after Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that countries like India, China and Brazil could face harsh sanctions if they continued energy trade with Russia. In response, the MEA reiterated that India's overriding concern remained ensuring affordable and reliable energy access for its population.

Judgment Day Arrives for UK Banks Over Car Loan Scandal: What to Watch
Judgment Day Arrives for UK Banks Over Car Loan Scandal: What to Watch

Mint

time35 minutes ago

  • Mint

Judgment Day Arrives for UK Banks Over Car Loan Scandal: What to Watch

Britain's lenders are bracing for a pivotal ruling at the country's top court over motor finance misselling that threatens to rival some of the largest UK consumer scandals. On Friday afternoon, the Supreme Court in London will rule on a series of claims by motorists who took out loans to buy cars without knowing that commission was paid by lenders. The decision will set parameters for the UK regulator who is responsible for imposing a huge redress scheme on banks that some analysts estimate could cost them more than £30 billion . The judges have moved quickly to publish the market sensitive ruling in order to allow for the Financial Conduct Authority to set out the compensation program within six weeks. Here's what to watch for in what Jefferies analysts said could be 'the most consequential ruling for lenders in recent history.' Will the Supreme Court side with consumers? The ruling comes nine months after a lower court effectively ripped up historical consumer finance practices by declaring it unlawful for banks to pay commission to a car dealer without obtaining the customer's informed consent. The judgment — that motor dealers owed duties of loyalty to their customers — stunned the consumer finance industry and prompted steep declines in several bank stocks. Although decision will come outside of European trading hours, several lenders have American Depositary Receipts that while thinly traded, do attract attention when major news hits. The judges declared that the customers placed 'trust and confidence' in the brokers to secure a competitive agreement — and that trust was broken. A ruling in favor of customers will change the way consumer finance is arranged across the board. Explainer: UK Banks Brace for Court Ruling on Missold Car Loans In the three cases before the Supreme Court, each motorist obtained finance to buy a second-hand car. In one case, neither the lender nor the broker disclosed that commission was payable. In the other two, the possibility of a commission being paid was disclosed in the documentation but there was no evidence that the customer was made aware of it at all. 'Burying such a statement in the small print which the lender knows the borrower is highly unlikely to read will not suffice,' judges previously said. The cases are being appealed by Close Brothers Group Plc, which had to briefly pause the writing of new UK motor finance business after the Court of Appeal ruling, and South Africa's FirstRand Ltd. What duties are owed by a car dealer to a customer? Among the key legal questions will be whether the car dealers, acting as credit brokers, owed duties of loyalty to the customer when they arranged the finance for the car. Those duties — known as a disinterested duty and a fiduciary duty — all feed into the question of whether the commissions needed to be disclosed. The Court of Appeal declared that a lender would be liable where a secret commission was paid to the broker in breach of those duties of loyalty. If the judges uphold the finding of a disinterested duty — that the dealers have a duty to provide information on an impartial basis — lawyers warned that the obligations on lenders would be enormous. It would mean that almost any user of car finance could apply for compensation. Even if the lenders succeed in overturning the ruling, they're still likely to face claims from customers who were charged discretionary commissions. The practice, which allowed brokers to adjust the interest rates on financing deals, was banned in 2021, with the Financial Conduct Authority saying it incentivized car dealers to increase a customer's borrowing costs. Eyes will also be on Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' response. HM Treasury had sought to intervene in the case arguing that the suit was hindering Britain's regulatory environment. The Supreme Court judges refused that application but there have been reports that government lawyers are looking at changing the law to protect the lenders. With assistance from Ronan Martin. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic Teaming Up? Superstars Looking To Set Up New Global Basketball League: Report
LeBron James, Nikola Jokic Teaming Up? Superstars Looking To Set Up New Global Basketball League: Report

News18

time2 hours ago

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LeBron James, Nikola Jokic Teaming Up? Superstars Looking To Set Up New Global Basketball League: Report

Last Updated: LeBron and Jokic's agent were seen in France, indiscussions with James' agent, Maverick Carter. NBA icons LeBron James and Nikola Jokic recently made headlines after being spotted together in France, fueling speculation about a potential collaboration. While fans may have dreamed of an on-court partnership between the Los Angeles Lakers forward and the Denver Nuggets center, the meeting was not about joining forces in the NBA. Instead, it was reportedly tied to discussions surrounding a new global basketball initiative spearheaded by James' longtime business partner and agent, Maverick Carter. According to a report by Front Office Sports, the gathering with Jokic's agent Misko Raznatovic, one of the most influential figures in European basketball, was linked to a potential international basketball league backed by Carter. A Global League Backed by Powerful Stakeholders Plans for the new league surfaced in a Bloomberg report published in January, which revealed that Carter was exploring the possibility of raising up to $5 billion to launch a global men's and women's basketball league. The concept would involve teams traveling together to play games in as many as eight international cities before moving on to the next destination—offering a touring model similar to Formula 1 or global concert tours. NBA Eyes Expansion in Europe The NBA itself appears to be keeping a close watch on global basketball developments. The league has expressed interest in establishing a satellite league in Europe—an idea that would mirror its growing efforts to globalize the game. As part of this strategy, the NBA announced this week that the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic will play regular-season games in Berlin and London in January 2026, marking a continued push to expand its presence in Europe and engage international audiences. (with Reuters inputs) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

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